Generals Take Series Finale over Jumbo Shrimp, 5-1

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jackson Generals left-hander Josh Taylor pitched 7 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts to help his team win a 5-1 series finale over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in front of 6,290 on Navy Mutual Military Appreciation Night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Having lost the first three games of the series before winning Saturday, the Generals (27-23) took the lead in the second inning Sunday.

The 2-0 Jackson lead remained until the fifth inning, when Taylor hit a one-out double to right field and scored on shortstop Colin Walsh’s RBI single to right field.

Mazza finished six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Left-hander James Buckelew worked a hitless seventh inning in relief for Jacksonville (22-28).

In the eighth inning, Jackson put two runners on base against left-hander Daniel Schlereth with center fielder Victor Reyes reaching on an error by first baseman Taylor Ard and a walk to Walsh.

Right-hander Esmerling De La Rosa entered with one out and threw a wild pitch to move both runners into scoring position. Cron then hit a two-run, ground-rule double to the left-field corner to extend the Generals lead to 5-0. De La Rosa finished the final 1 2/3 innings. Schlereth allowed two runs – one earned – with a walk and strikeouts in one-third of an inning.

Taylor scattered five hits and one walk with no baserunner advancing past second base through the first seven innings. In the eighth inning, center fielder

Yefri Perez had an infield single, second baseman KC Serna singled to right field, and right fielder John Norwood had a one-out RBI single to left field. Taylor departed for left-hander Daniel Gibson.

Catcher Michael Perez picked Norwood off first base, and Gibson struck out Ard to end the inning. Gibson worked around two hits in the ninth inning to record a five-out save – his third of the season – in a 5-1 Jackson win.
The Jumbo Shrimp open a series in Pensacola at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday. Jacksonville returns home Sunday, June 4, for a 6:35 p.m. series opener with the Montgomery Biscuits.